Ajai, what are you doing with that hardliner anti national element Geelani???? Geelani may have some knowledge on Pakistani defence matters but not Indian defence matters. Come back, else he may teach you how to pelt stones and call bandhs.....

Why so much anger here? I ave never seem Mr. Geelani's photo so I cannot comment if the elderly man in the photo is indeed Mr. Geelani. But, Ajai-ji is a journalist and as such he needs to know the story from both sides. There is nothing wrong in meeting with someone from the opposition, no matter how much of a disagreement is between them. Whether you agree or not, there is no harm in talking and listening, especially if you are a journalist. It's not like he is supplying arms to Geelani or inspiring him in one way or another. Take it easy folks.

Dont u have any better people to visit and take pictures with so similingly,,,why do u guys always act so secularistic and eager to make friends with such ultras while they still vye for Hdus to be skinned 24/7 even after looting the country for 1000 yrs..

Why are you with this traitor? Why give importance to people who are like cancer to society? As an Indian and that too ex-army, you should be ashamed of yourself to be in his company let alone posing for a photo. And please don't give us journalistic crap. This guy has nothing to tell you or provide any information. Shame on you.

Anon@6.50How does it matter what is written in Arabic or Urdu...what is important is how you guys interpret it...Crux of all your interpretation is "We are supreme and will prevail as a civilization by eliminating all non-believers by force" LOL....

Now I know how you got your name! But you certainly made my wife's day. She's been ROFL for some hours now.

I'm really pleased to have pissed off so many of the bigoted, xenophogic assholes who --- for some incomprehensible reason --- gravitate to this completely secular and dispassionate blog. Must be the "flies to honey" phenomenon.

I've talked to Geelani many times before and will talk to him whenever I can again. One of the reasons why I understand Kashmiri politics is that I talk to all sections of opinion-makers there. And one of the reasons why the Ministry of Home Affairs hasn't a clue about what's going on there is that they think Geelani doesn't matter!

Here's a promise for all of you: the next time I visit Geelani, I'll try and get a photo of him kissing my forehead, which he often does to male visitors. He's eminently courteous, even if I don't agree at all with his politics.

"I'm really pleased to have pissed off so many of the bigoted, xenophobic assholes who --- for some incomprehensible reason --- gravitate to this completely secular and dispassionate blog." Hahahahahaha most entertaining and interesting comment Broadsword! What ever you are doing....its working! Birds of all feathers are reading your blog and that's success anyway you cut it! Congratulations and keep up the good work.

visiting a person who is reponsible for the death of hundreds of kasmiri hindus in vally show the real face of ur secular blog. Then plz visit kasab and Afzal guru also and try to know his opinion and then slam govt for not knowing enough abt their thinking, post the pic in blog and again show ur true face of patriotism and secularism..

So you feels that you understand Kashmir politics better than MOHA, all right Colonel waiting for your article on this issue, will grill you then. Hope you will be able to prove yourself correct. However convey my wishes to Mam, she is extremely lucky to have a husband like you, who has the heart big enough to take her to places like Afghanistan and Kashmir (Hope you feels that you will be able to save her from any danger, believing on your training and not that you like to put her in dangers again and again like all old married couples hahaha)...BTW she is extremely lucky if u r paying for her trips not BS...?? But I need an urgent answer, why the word "secularism" is so famous in India or only in India? is it a fashion?? But an ace army commander losing his cool on some unknown blogger doesn't reflects good training watever reasons you may have, but tat remains unjustified from someone who had donned olive ones. Colonel you are more than a reporter and will remain so, I've no doubt that you will do watever it takes to save the pride of olive, but I was just reminding.

I agree with most of your response. the only I don't like the way which you plonk the word "secular" in your reply.

Dispassionate? of course, but secular? This whole thing seems to be perfectly in line with the Nai Dilli bindi intellectual phenomena wherein one thinks that you become instantly secular if you interact with some right leaning Islamic dissident.

In fact the the urge to go down this path is sometimes so great that even veteran BJP leaders are unable to resist leading to rather humorous circumstances.

Kernail Sahab: Looks like you get your kicks by holding photo-ops with terrorist leaders. That's ok. I dare you to post a picture being kissed on the musharraf by Geelani.... You will lose your readers...

next time take a shot gun and shoot him when you get the first chance ...the biggest problem is with Kashmir issue is it's has happen in Indiaif it was with china they would have pushed all the people out and flooded the last with Chinese people ..compulsory Chinese language

Geelani and his views matter and he may kiss u on ur forehead but he is also probably responsible for putting bullets through the foreheads of many indians including armymen. I understand ur explaination for meeting Geelani as a commentator or journalist but doesn't the armyman in you make u uncomfortable meeting a man like that? Would love to hear ur views on this

What is this obsession within our journalist to prove that they are "secular" and this should be done by seeing to be taking side with some Muslim or Christian leader who specialize in giving anti- Hindu speeches.

As far as my personal knowledge goes, my understanding of secularism in India is seeing everyone within my homeland as a Indian, without giving a hoot what God they bow to.

If someone say a good word about Modi be it Anna Hazare or Deband VC is tagged as supporting Communalism, why shouldn't any one saying a good word about Geelani be tagged the same?

After all both of them(atleast according to the media) seems to believe the religion they are born in is Supreme and firmly support "ethnic cleansing"!

Maybe Modi learnt a thing or two from Geelani, who already experimented "ethnic cleansing" in Kashmir.

Looks like no one read Col. Shukla's last line, and I quote " even if I don't agree at all with his politics". I wonder if many of the esteemed readers here appreciate the word "objectivity".

Ask any serviceman who served/or is serving in J&K, those who actually put their feet where their mouths are, no of them love Geelani.

But service folk who bleed and die for the nation also know that a long term solution is not going to come merely from the barrels of our weapons. It needs cool headed, smiling engagement with the enemy, not hate mongering from armchair warriors.

Sigh, what a sad display of vitriol! Oh, and by the way, Anon @ 08:50 be glad we are not China, else many would not be freely spewing this judgmental bull.

This man Geelani rises and falls with the dispensation in Paki-land.He was sidelined in Mushy's time.Mushy had his own dreams for posterity and ran a one man high profile show in Kashmir.Geelani is now in the limelight because Kiyani/Pasha and co back him.The Pakis now work more insidiously and in the background. Geelani is a fundamentalist jehadi spokesman for Pakistan.No wonder his flip-flops.His latest is on the Kashmiri Pandits to return as brothers.Rich!from a guy who links so called Kashmiri aspirations solely to Islam.These guys are snakes and are to be treated with caution,always,no matter how benign they may seem from far.

As a journalist in real sense it is quite purposeful to familiarize and understand point of views across the spectrum to provide complete picture when paid news and playing to the gallery is norm. However, labeling yourself secular is sleaze that almost every journalist does. I believe, you learnt the art of Indian journalism well. May be the next step is to get affiliated to a political party and enter Rajya sabha.

Before promoting such COWERED you should have thought about our Soldiers at least once you also served as one of them isn't ajai ji. The COWERED in the photo is behinf all the killing that happens in kashmir please AJAI JI REMOVE HIS PICTURE AND PUT SOMETHING ELSE PLEASE FOR GOD SAKE ITS HURTS REAL HURTS ME SEEING HIS PICTURE ESPECIALLY IN YOU BLOG

The great cunning smart a** who knows how to milk the Indian tax payers by getting pension and receiving free health check-ups at AIIMS, and then shouting without shame against the provider.Did you eat with him? If so, cleanse yourself. Even his smell/speck will pollute you.

Col, as i have mentioned before its a pity more indians are not like you...alas just reading these comments makes us glad to be separate and is the reason why our brothers want to join us. This demand will only increase as people in valley become aware of the hatred of the BR types.

@SherkhanWhat do you expect for a man who spearheaded a genocide? Called for boycott during the height of Kargil war?"Brothers", good for India.As long as you support that shameless cockroach, please join and leave wherever you want. As Farooq Abdullah asked why Kashmiri Muslims did not reciprocate the deeds of Pundits when Kashmiri Muslims faced crisis in 1947. It is a shame and curse every Kashmiri Muslim will carry for ever. All these messages are just highlighting them.

@AjaijiI feel calling names is totally unwarranted. You have your opinion on Geelani and your blog visitors have theirs. You asked who? Instead of addressing as Mr.XXX they addressed him according to their frustration. Being a daily visitor to your blog, I think I saw your other side in those words. FYI, even Osama bin Laden is courteous.

One should take every opportunity to know more about one's enemies so Ajai has to be congratulated, not condemned. As for Mrs. Ajai, she must be a good sport because she has that patient, long-suffering look on her face that wives get when their husbands become absorbed in a hobby that yields no cash.